According to an administrative email sent to parents and students, the drill — the first in several years — hopes to help students and faculty “be prepared, as well as look at ways that we [the administration] can improve the [drill] process.”
The start of the drill will be announced over the school’s public announcement system, according to Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson, who added that the staff already completed a training session for the Code Red procedure in January.
To accommodate the drill, Paly will follow a special seven-period schedule with 45 minute classes:
Warning Bell – 8:10 a.m.
1st Period – 8:15 to 9:00 a.m.
2nd Period – 9:05 to 9:50 a.m.
Drill – 9:50 to 10:25 a.m.
Brunch – 10:25 to 10:35 a.m.
3rd Period – 10:40 to 11:25 a.m.
4th Period – 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Lunch – 12:20 to 12:55 p.m.
5th Period – 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
6th Period – 1:50 to 2:35 p.m.
7th Period – 2:40 to 3:25 p.m.
Berkson added that everyone should remain serious about the Code Red drill.
“It’s important that people take it [the drill] seriously because, in the event in this type of situation, I don’t think you want to look back later and say, ‘Boy, I wish I took that seriously,'” Berkson said.
“Door bloks” have also been distributed to all classrooms to ease the transition into having doors locked at all times, making it easier to simply pull the “door blok” off in case of an emergency.